- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Head of Rand Paul Super PAC Faces Federal Conspiracy Charges

© Flickr / Gage SkidmorePresidential hopeful Rand Paul of Kentucky at a book signing at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, along with Jesse Benton.
Presidential hopeful Rand Paul of Kentucky at a book signing at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, along with Jesse Benton. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Only one day before the first of the Republican primary debates, the heads of Rand Paul’s main super PAC have been indicted on charges of conspiracy. Embroiling the husband of Ron Paul’s granddaughter, the elder Paul alleges the charges are part of a government plot to discredit his son’s campaign.

In 2014, Iowa lawmaker Kent Sorenson pleaded guilty to being involved in a pay-for-endorsement scheme during Ron Paul’s 2012 president campaign. According to Sorenson, he was secretly paid $73,000 to endorse the Paul candidacy.

According to the US Department of Justice, those payments came in monthly $8,000 installments and were listed as "campaign-related audio-visual expenditures" to avoid scrutiny.

FBI headquarters - Sputnik International
US FBI Investigates Security of Private Clinton Email Servers

While federal prosecutors admitted that Paul had no knowledge of the transactions, the scandal has come back to embroil two people behind America’s Liberty PAC. John Tate, the PAC’s founder, and Jesse Benton, husband of Ron Paul’s granddaughter and current head of America’s Liberty, have been indicted on six charges – including conspiracy – related to the Sorenson affair.

That PAC is currently one of the main backers for Rand Paul’s current presidential campaign.

Benton worked as Ron Paul’s campaign chairman at the time of the scandal, and the indictment alleges that Benton lied under oath about his involvement in and knowledge of the payments.

According to the DOJ, Benton lied to the FBI during their 2014 investigation.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, United States, July 18, 2015 - Sputnik International
Donald Trump 'Not Invited' to Koch Brothers Political Fundraiser

"I’m not splitting hairs," Benton said, "Sorenson was not getting paid."

The Paul campaign, however, has called the timing of the indictment into question.

"Senator Rand Paul is disappointed that the Obama justice department chose to release this just prior to the highly anticipated first Republican presidential debate," said an anonymous campaign spokesman, according to Politico.

"It certainly appears suspiciously timed and possibly, politically motivated. Additionally, these actions are from 2012 and have nothing to do with our campaign."

Former presidential candidate Ron Paul has also weighed in on the decision, also raising doubts about the timing.

"I am extremely disappointed in the government’s decision," Paul said in a statement. "I think the timing of this indictment is highly suspicious, given the fact that the first primary debate is tomorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those involved. I will not be commenting further on this matter at this time."

US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) arrives in the House Chamber prior to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress in the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 3, 2015 - Sputnik International
Rand Paul Names Russia, China as First State Visits if Elected

Of course, given that the latest polls show Rand Paul pulling in only 4.8% of the vote, a government sabotage doesn’t seem like it would be entirely necessary.

In addition to Benton and Tate, the indictment also includes Dimitrios Kesari, a deputy national campaign manager during Ron Paul’s 2012 campaign. They faced charges of "conspiracy, causing false records to obstruct a contemplated investigation, causing the submission of false campaign expenditure reports to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and engaging in a scheme to make false statements to the FEC."

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала